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Origins of human cooperation and morality

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tomasello, M; Vaish, A
Published in: Annual Review of Psychology
January 1, 2013

From an evolutionary perspective, morality is a form of cooperation. Cooperation requires individuals either to suppress their own self-interest or to equate it with that of others. We review recent research on the origins of human morality, both phylogenetic (research with apes) and ontogenetic (research with children). For both time frames we propose a two-step sequence: first a second-personal morality in which individuals are sympathetic or fair to particular others, and second an agent-neutral morality in which individuals follow and enforce group-wide social norms. Human morality arose evolutionarily as a set of skills and motives for cooperating with others, and the ontogeny of these skills and motives unfolds in part naturally and in part as a result of sociocultural contexts and interactions. © 2013 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.

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Published In

Annual Review of Psychology

DOI

EISSN

1545-2085

ISSN

0066-4308

Publication Date

January 1, 2013

Volume

64

Start / End Page

231 / 255

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 52 Psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1505 Marketing
 

Citation

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Tomasello, M., & Vaish, A. (2013). Origins of human cooperation and morality. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 231–255. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143812
Tomasello, M., and A. Vaish. “Origins of human cooperation and morality.” Annual Review of Psychology 64 (January 1, 2013): 231–55. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143812.
Tomasello M, Vaish A. Origins of human cooperation and morality. Annual Review of Psychology. 2013 Jan 1;64:231–55.
Tomasello, M., and A. Vaish. “Origins of human cooperation and morality.” Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 64, Jan. 2013, pp. 231–55. Scopus, doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143812.
Tomasello M, Vaish A. Origins of human cooperation and morality. Annual Review of Psychology. 2013 Jan 1;64:231–255.

Published In

Annual Review of Psychology

DOI

EISSN

1545-2085

ISSN

0066-4308

Publication Date

January 1, 2013

Volume

64

Start / End Page

231 / 255

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 52 Psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1505 Marketing